1 Samuel 16

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided a king for myself among his sons.”

Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” The LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’

Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. You shall anoint to me him whom I name to you.”

Samuel did that which the LORD spoke, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, “Do you come peaceably?”

He said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” He sanctified Jesse and his sons, and called them to the sacrifice.

When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.”

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his face, or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for I don’t see as man sees. For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “The LORD has not chosen this one, either.”

Then Jesse made Shammah to pass by. He said, “The LORD has not chosen this one, either.”

Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.”

Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your children here?” He said, “There remains yet the youngest. Behold, he is keeping the sheep.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.”

He sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with a handsome face and good appearance. The LORD said, “Arise! Anoint him, for this is he.”

Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then the LORD’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

Now the LORD’s Spirit departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

Saul’s servants said to him, “See now, an evil spirit from God troubles you.

Let our lord now command your servants who are in front of you to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the evil spirit from God is on you, he will play with his hand, and you will be well.”

Saul said to his servants, “Provide me now a man who can play well, and bring him to me.”

Then one of the young men answered and said, “Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him.”

Therefore Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, “Send me David your son, who is with the sheep.”

Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat, and sent them by David his son to Saul.

David came to Saul and stood before him. He loved him greatly; and he became his armor bearer.

Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my sight.”

When the spirit from God was on Saul, David took the harp and played with his hand; so Saul was refreshed and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview. This chapter records the divine redirection of Samuel to anoint David as king over Israel, replacing Saul, whom the Lord has rejected. God emphasizes His sovereign choice by selecting the youngest and overlooked son of Jesse, highlighting that He looks upon the heart rather than outward appearance. David is anointed, the Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, and he is brought into Saul’s service as a musician to soothe the king’s distress caused by an evil spirit.

Flow.

The Lord instructs Samuel to stop mourning Saul and to anoint a new king from among Jesse’s sons in Bethlehem.
Samuel obeys under the cover of sacrifice, sanctifies Jesse’s household, and prepares to identify God’s chosen.
Though seven sons pass before him, none are chosen; David, the youngest and tending sheep, is summoned and anointed by Samuel.
The Spirit of the Lord powerfully comes upon David, while departing from Saul, who begins to receive torment from an evil spirit, leading to David’s eventual entrance into his service through his musical skill.

Connections. Following chapter 15, where Samuel confronts Saul’s disobedience and the Lord rejects his kingship (WCF 5.7), this chapter enacts that rejection by shifting divine favor to David, setting in motion the rise of a man after God’s own heart. It prepares for chapter 17, where David’s faith and divine empowerment are publicly displayed in his victory over Goliath, fulfilling the trajectory begun here with his anointing.

What it teaches. God does not choose according to human standards but according to His sovereign will and knowledge of the heart (; cf. WCF 3.4, 5.7). The Spirit of the Lord empowers those whom He appoints (), just as the Lord may withdraw His Spirit from those who persist in rebellion (; cf. WCF 15.1). True qualification for leadership lies not in pedigree or appearance but in inward character and divine calling, reflecting God’s free grace in setting apart individuals for His purposes (HC LD 10, A. 28).

Apply. David’s quiet faithfulness in the field prepared him for the king’s court, showing that unseen service is often the foundation of public calling.

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